The 'D' Word

It's Time for Burned Investors
To Give Dividends Another Look

Until last week, all the droning on Wall Street was about the summer doldrums. But a big announcement from Microsoft has shifted the focus to a new "d" word: dividends.

The market's been spinning its wheels, and with price appreciation going nowhere, investors are keen on other ways to rake in cash. A fat handout like the $32 billion reward Microsoft is planning for its shareholders is one way. Yet, investors are ignoring...